We now spend a much bigger share of our grocery money on processed foods, which includes things like frozen dinners, canned soups and snacks. We spend much less on meat, largely because meat is much cheaper than it was 30 years ago.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Credit: Lam Thuy Vo / NPR

"We've seen major restructuring in poultry, pork and beef industries that has allowed efficiencies and brought down the cost," Walter Falcon, a Stanford economist who's an expert on food, told me.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Credit: Lam Thuy Vo / NPR

Here's one more chart for you if you want to compare prices then and now:

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